Oga 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

     The history of Oga 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is unknown.  #1 Jisho-in Temple was founded at the turn of the 17th century by Ota Masatada, a descendant of Ota Dokan (1432-1486), who built the foundation of Edo Castle.  Masatada’s father, Sukemasa, used to live in Fukushima Prefecture, and it is unknown why Masatada moved to today’s Akita Prefecture.  Anyway, it must be after the 17th century that the pilgrimage was organized.

     As you go on the pilgrimage in a numeric order, you will travel clockwise around the Oga Peninsula.

     The migration from the northern coast of the Sea of Japan to the peninsula was not impossible nor improbable.  Oga City in Akita Prefecture has Akagami Shrine, which has passed down a migration-related legend.  Long, Long ago, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty brought 5 ogres to the village.  To drive them out, villagers made a promise with the ogres.  If ogres were to build one thousand stone steps to Akagami Shrine within a night, the villagers would marry their daughters to the ogres.  If not, the ogres should leave the village.  When the ogres finished building 999 stone steps, a villager copied crows of a rooster.  The ogres kept their promise and left the village.  If it had really happened when Wu was ruling China, it should have happened in the first century B.C., 4 centuries before the first kingdom of Japan was born.  It is quite improbable that the legend has been handed down since such old days.  At the beginning of the 8th century, Dewa Fortress was built in today’s Yamagata Prefecture.  In 733, it was removed further north to today’s Akita Prefecture to suppress Emishi people living there.  Japanese shrines should have been built after the middle of the 8th century there.  Anyway, I wonder why they didn't accept the ogres who were competent enough to build 999 stone steps in such a short time, and who had such good manners to keep promises.